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(No Model.)

A. J. PAUL. 'INDIGATING VALVE. No. 577,147. Patented Feb. 16, 1897.

ATTORNEYZ);

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREI/V G. PAUL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO CHARLES GROVE, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

lNDlCATlNG-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,147, dated February16, 1897.

A li ti fil d June 27, 1896. Serial No. 597,171. (No model-l characterwherein the valve-stem is rotatable but is fixed against longitudinalmovement. In valves of this kind as ordinarily constructed there hasbeen no satisfactory means to clearly indicate when the valve is openand when it is closed. In accordance with this invention simple andinexpensive means which are not liable to get out of order are provided,whereby the condition of the valve may be always clearly indicated.

The invention consists of the construction hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which likeparts are designated by similar letters of reference, Figure 1 is afront elevation of a valve embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation with the valve-casing and indicator in section, and Fig. 3 isa detail horizontal section.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention asshown in the drawings, A is the valve casing, provided with therotatable and longitudinally-fixed valve-stem B, having thescrew-threads b. On one side of the casing is fixed an indicating-plate0, having projecting edges, as shown in Fig. The shutter D is arrangedto move back and forth over the plate 0 and is provided with suitablemeans to hold it in place and prevent it from turning sidewise. In thebest form of the invention I provide for this purpose grooves orchannels (1 at the edges of the shutter, adapted to receive projectionson the valve-casing. In the drawings I have shown the grooves d fittingover the edges of the plate G, which thus provides the projections in aconvenient way.

E is a non-rotatable nut fitting on the threads I) of the stem B andarranged to travel up and down on the stem to actuate the shutter whenthe valve-stem is rotated. In making the nut non-rotatable and inarranging for it to actuate the shutter any suitable means may beemployed for the purpose. The means for this purpose which I considerthe best are shown in the drawings and consist of an arm 6, rigidlyconnected with or made in one piece with the nut and having its outerend detachably and rigidly con-' to make the words clearly readable ifthe position of the valve when fixed in its place requires suchreversal. In providing for the reversal of the plate C, I employ aplurality of screws, pins, or other easily-detachable fastening meanspassing through the plate into the valve-casing to hold the plate inplace and at the same time to render the plate readily removable. Toremove the plate 0, it is only necessary to move the shutter so as toexpose the screw and steady-pin, when both may be easily taken out andthe plate removed, reversed, and put back and secured again in place,all this being done without the necessity of detaching the shutter.

The detachable fastening means for the v plate C are behind the shutterD and are in the best form of the invention so disposed that they cannotbe entirely detached, so as to remove the plate 0, without changing theposition of the shutter. This will be understood by reference to thescrew or and steadypin a, the preferred fastening means. The screw a andpin a are disposed one above the other, so that when the shutter is inposition to expose one plate and render it accessible the other iscovered and inaccessible, and vice versa. The valve, when connected inplace for use as a fire-valve, is generally sealed in closed position bymeans of a sealing-wire f and cannot beoperated without first breakingthe seal. By the disposition and arrangement of the fastening means forthe plate 0 above described it will be seen that the plate 0 cannot bereversed without first breaking the seal. A mischievous reversal of theplate can therefore be instantly detected. This-is an important featureof the invention, because Without it an evil-disposed person couldsurreptitiously reverse the plate 0 Without detection and practicallyrender the valve useless in an emergency. The shutter may have anaperture, as shown, through which to read the indicating-plate, or, ifdesired, the shutter may be of a size just sufficient to cover one markor legend on the plate while exposing at the same time the other mark orlegend.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent is 1. In a valve, the combination of a valve-casing provided onone side with a reversible indicating-plate bearing on each side twoseparated marks or legends, one to signify valve open and the other tosignify valve closed, readily-removable means for securing saidindicating-plate in place, a movable and nonrotatable shutter adapted tomove back and forth over the indicating-plate to render each one of saidmarks or legends separately visible while the otheris simultaneouslyobscured, saidshutter-held in placejby suitable means, a rotatable andlongitudinally-fixed valvestem provided with screw-threads and normallysealed in one position, and a non-rotatable nut onthe threadedvalve-stem arranged to actuate the shutter, the means for holding theindicating-plate in place so disposed With respect to the shutter thatthey cannot be entirely withdrawn to remove said plate until thevalve-seal has been broken and the valve and shutter moved from oneposition to another, substantially as set forth.

2. In a valve,the combination of a valve-casin g provided on one sidewith a reversible indicating-plate bearing on each side two separatedmarks or legends, one to signify valve open and the other to signifyvalve closed, said indicating-plate fixed to the valve-casing by meansof a screw and steady-pin, a movable and non-rotatable shutter adaptedto move back and forth over the indicating-plate to render each one ofsaid marks or legends separately visible while the other issimultaneously obscured, said shutter comprising a plate provided withlongitudinal grooves fitting over suitable projections on the valvecasing, a rotatable and longitudinally-fixed valve-stem provided withscrew-threads and normally sealed in one position and a non-r0- tatablenut on the threaded valve-stem arranged to actuate the shutter, themeans for holding the indicating-plate in place so disposed with respectto the shutter that they cannot be entirely withdrawn to remove saidplate until. the valve-seal-has been broken and the valve and shuttermoved from one position to another, substantially as set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDRE? G. PAUL.

\Vitnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, CHARLES J. PUPKI.

